Steam iron sole plate with plug insert

Abstract

A steam iron sole plate comprises a substantially flat body in which an electric resistor is incorporated. The body defines in its interior a cavity open towards the rear face of the body. An insert can be applied so as to close the cavity and defines an inlet for the introduction of water and/or steam into the cavity. A plurality of holes for the delivery of steam, communicating with the cavity, is provided on the lower ironing face of the body.

I claim: 
     
       1. Steam iron sole plate with plug insert or the like comprising, at least one body, said body being substantially flat,   at least one electric resistor incorporated in said body,   a rear face defined by said body,   at least one cavity defined in said body and being open at said rear face,   at least one insert adapted for closing said cavity at said   rear face of said body,   a lower ironing face defined by said body,   a plurality of holes formed in said lower ironing face of said body and communicating with said cavity, and,   at least one inlet, said inlet being defined on said insert, communicating with said cavity, and being adapted for permitting introduction of at least one fluid selected from among water and steam into said cavity wherein said body defines at least one tip zone, at least one central zone, and a plurality of lateral zones, and wherein said plurality of holes are formed in said tip zone, in said central zone, and in said plurality of lateral zones.   
     
     
       2. Steam iron sole plate with plug insert or the like according to claim 1, wherein said insert comprises at least one end crosspiece and at least one perimetral border, said inlet being defined in said end crosspiece, said perimetral border extending from said end crosspiece and defining in said cavity at least one first chamber and at least one second chamber, said first chamber communicating with said holes formed in said central zone and said lateral zone of said body, said second chamber communicating with said holes formed at said tip zone of said body, said sole plate structure further comprising at least one recess, said recess being formed in said perimetral border, said first chamber communicating with said second chamber through said recess. 
     
     
       3. Steam iron sole plate with plug insert or the like according to claim 1, wherein said insert comprises; at least one end crosspiece,   at least one inner border extending from said end crosspiece,   at least one outer border extending from said end crosspiece,   at least one inner chamber delimited by said inner border, said inner chamber communicating with said holes formed in said central zone of said body,   at least one aspiration chamber defined between said inner border and said outer border, said aspiration chamber communicating with said holes formed in said lateral zones of said body, and   an aspiration inlet formed in said end crosspiece and communicating with said aspiration chamber, and wherein said inlet is formed in said end crosspiece and communicates with said inner chamber.   
     
     
       4. Steam iron sole plate with plug insert or the like according to claim 1, wherein said insert comprises; at least one end crosspiece,   a plurality of dividing walls, said dividing walls intersecting each other substantially perpendicularly and being interconnected to said end crosspiece,   a plurality of chambers defined by said plurality of dividing walls,   at least one edge defined by each dividing wall in said plurality of dividing walls,   a plurality of recesses formed in said edge of each of said dividing walls and communicating with said plurality of chambers, wherein said plurality of recesses and said plurality of chambers define at least one tortuous path for steam.     
     
     
       5. Steam iron sole plate with plug insert or the like according to claim 1, further comprising at least one sole member, said sole member being rigidly associated with said insert and adapted for closing at least some of said plurality of holes formed in said lower ironing face of said body. 
     
     
       6. Steam iron sole plate with plug insert or the like comprising; at least one body, said body being substantially flat,   at least one electric resistor incorporated in said body,   a rear face defined by said body,   at least one cavity defined in said body and being open at said rear face,   at least one insert adapted for closing said cavity at said rear face of said body,   a lower ironing face defined by said body,   a plurality of holes formed in said lower ironing face of said body and communicating with said cavity, and,   at least one inlet, said inlet being defined on said insert, communicating with said cavity, and being adapted for permitting introduction of at least one fluid selected from among water and steam into said cavity, wherein said cavity defines a cavity bottom, and wherein said holes extend from said lower ironing face to said cavity bottom.     
     
     
       7. Steam iron sole plate with plug insert or the like according to claim 6, wherein said body defines at least one tip zone, at least one central zone, and a plurality of lateral zones, and wherein said plurality of holes extend from said lower ironing face to said cavity in said tip zone, in said central zone, and in said plurality of lateral zones. 
     
     
       8. Steam iron sole plate with plug insert or the like according to claim 6, wherein said at least one insert comprises a plug insert, said plug insert being adapted for closing said cavity. 
     
     
       9. Steam iron sole plate with plug insert or the like according to claim 6, further comprising metal wool, said body defining a heat exchange surface, said metal wool being accommodated within said cavity and adapted for trapping wate particles and increasing said heat exchange surface defined by said body. 
     
     
       10. Steam iron sole plate with plug insert or the like according to claim 7, wherein said insert comprises at least one end crosspiece and at least one perimetral border, said inlet being defined in said end crosspiece, said perimetral border extending from said end crosspiece and defining in said cavity at least one first chamber and at least one second chamber, said first chamber communicating with said holes formed in said central zone and said lateral zone of said body, said second chamber communicating with said holes formed at said tip zone of said body, said sole plate structure further comprising at least one recess, said recess being formed in said perimetral border, said first chamber communicating with said second chamber through said recess. 
     
     
       11. Steam iron sole plate with plug insert or the like according to claim 7, wherein said insert comprises; at least one end crosspiece,   at least one inner border extending from said end crosspiece,   at least one outer border extending from said end crosspiece,   at least one inner chamber delimited by said inner border, said inner chamber communicating with said holes formed in said central zone of said body,   at least one aspiration chamber defined between said inner border and said outer border, said aspiration chamber communicating with said holes formed in said lateral zones of said body, and   an aspiration inlet formed in said end crosspiece and communicating with said aspiration chamber, and wherein said inlet is formed in said end crosspiece and communicates with said inner chamber.   
     
     
       12. Steam iron sole plate with plug insert or the like according to claim 6, wherein said insert comprises; at least one end crosspiece,   a plurality of dividing walls, said dividing walls intersecting each other substantially perpendicularly and being interconnected to said end crosspiece,   a plurality of chambers defined by said plurality of dividing walls,   at least one edge defined by each dividing wall in said plurality of dividing walls,   a plurality of recesses formed in said edge of each of said dividing walls and communicating with said plurality of chambers, wherein said plurality of recesses and said plurality of chambers define at least one tortuous path for steam.     
     
     
       13. Steam iron sole plate with plug insert or the like according to claim 6, further comprising at least one sole member, said sole member being rigidly associated with said insert and adapted for closing at least some of said plurality of holes formed in said lower ironing face of said body. 
     
     
       14. Steam iron sole plate with plug insert or the like comprising; at least one body, said body being substantially flat,   at least one electric resistor incorporated in said body,   a rear face defined by said body,   at least one cavity defined in said body and being open at said rear face,   at least one insert adapted for closing said cavity at said rear face of said body,   a lower ironing face defined by said body,   a plurality of holes formed in said lower ironing face of said body and communicating with said cavity, and,   at least one inlet, said inlet being defined on said insert, communicating with said cavity, and being adapted for permitting introduction of at least one fluid selected from among water and steam into said cavity, wherein said cavity defines a cavity bottom, and wherein said holes open into said cavity at said cavity botton.     
     
     
       15. Steam iron sole plate with plug insert or the like according to claim 14, wherein said body defines at least one tip zone, at least one central zone, and a plurality of lateral zones, and wherein said plurality of holes open into said cavity at said cavity bottom in said tip zone, in said central zone, and in said plurality of lateral zones. 
     
     
       16. Steam iron sole plate with plug insert or the like according to claim 14, further comprising metal wool, said body defining a heat exchange surface, said metal wool being accommodated within said cavity and adapted for trapping water particles and increasing said heat exchange surface defined by said body. 
     
     
       17. Steam iron sole plate with plug insert or the like according to claim 15, wherein said insert comprises at least one end crosspiece and at least one perimetral border, said inlet being defined in said end crosspiece, said perimetral border extending from said end crosspiece and defining in said cavity at least one first chamber and at least one second chamber, said first chamber communicating with said holes formed in said central zone and said lateral zone of said body, said second chamber communicating with said holes formed at said tip zone of said body, said sole plate structure further comprising at least one recess, said recess being formed in said perimetral border, said first chamber communicating with said second chamber through said recess. 
     
     
       18. Steam iron sole plate with plug insert or the like according to claim 15, wherein said insert comprises; at least one end crosspiece,   at least one inner border extending from said end crosspiece,   at least one outer border extending from said end crosspiece,   at least one inner chamber delimited by said inner border, said inner chamber communicating with said holes formed in said central zone of said body,   at least one aspiration chamber defined between said inner border and said outer border, said aspiration chamber communicating with said holes formed in said lateral zones of said body, and   an aspiration inlet formed in said end crosspiece and communicating with said aspiration chamber, and, wherein said inlet is formed in said end crosspiece and communicates with said inner chamber.     
     
     
       19. Steam iron sole plate with plug insert or the like according to claim 14, wherein said insert comprises; at least one end crosspiece,   a plurality of dividing walls, said dividing walls intersecting each other substantially perpendicularly and being interconnected to said end crosspiece,   a plurality of chambers defined by said plurality of dividing walls,   at least one edge defined by each dividing wall in said plurality of dividing walls,   a plurality of recesses formed in said edge of each of said dividing walls and communicating with said plurality of chambers, wherein said plurality of recesses and said plurality of chambers define at least one tortuous path for steam.     
     
     
       20. Steam iron sole plate with plug insert or the like according to claim 14, further comprising at least one sole member, said sole member being rigidly associated with said insert and adapted for closing at least some of said plurality of holes formed in said lower ironing face of said body.